Latch



` T. 1. MACKENZI'E, 1n.

` LATCH.

APPLICATION AFILED MAY I2. 1921.

Patented Apr. 11, 1922.

A v x.

THOMAS J. gAdxENzm, JR., or rHILADELrHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

LATCH.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented A151211, 19.22.

Application led May 12, 1921. Serial No. 468,922.

T0 all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. MAOKEN- zin, Jr., a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Philadelphia, inV the county of Philadelphia andState of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful ImprovementsinLatches, of which the following is a specification.

One object of my invention is to provide an improved' latch which can beused with advantage on automobile doors or doors of other types andwhich can be operated by the movement of a plunger. Y Y

A further object is to provide a latch of a simple and durableconstruction which can bequiclly and easily manufactured and installed.

These objects, and other advantageous ends which will be describedhereinafter, I attain in the following manner, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a sectional sideelevation showing a latch made in accordance with my invention, j

Figure 2 is asection taken on the line 2 2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a view of thesame general character asthat shown in -Figure1 illustrating the parts in another position when Ythe bolt of the latchis withdrawn, and

Figure 4f is a view of the same general character as shown in Figuresland 43 illustrating the parts in still another position.

Referring to the drawings, 5 is a rectangular casing in which the side 6is preferably madedetachable so as to permit access to the interior ofthe casing. A bolt 7 is slidably mounted within the casing; the rear end8 being positionedwithin guideways 9; the forward end portion 10 of saidbolt having a horizontally extending slot 11 through which extends acylindrical lug`12fwhich may be made integralwith and-projectingforwardly from the back 13 ofthe casing 5. Thus the lug 12 and ltheguideways 9 serve to form a sliding bearing for the bolt.

'The .forward end 14 of the bolt is beveled 2 is freely rotatable on thelug 12 and in the present instance has four pins 18 projecting Yfromvthe side thereof and spaced apart around the axis of the lug 12. Therear part 8 of thebolt 7 hasa lateral projection providing two slantingsurfaces 19 and 2O which are in theplane of the cam 17; said surfacesterminating in a point 21. The cam 17 has opposed edge surfaces 22- eachhaving a slight depression 23 which merges with two slightly convexportions 24and 25. The surface portions between the portions 22 are madewith a comparatively deep depression 26 which merges with substantiallyflat surface portions 27 and convex portions 28.

A plunger 29l extends through a hole in the top 30 of the casing 5; saidplunger having a slot 31 through which a lug 32 on the casing extends sothat the plunger will be guided in a straight path. The lower end 33 o'fthe plunger is preferably slightly tapered and this end is normally heldout of the path of the pins 18, as shown in Figure 1,'by al spring 34,'said spring being looped and having one end bound around the lug 32 andthe other end secured to a lip 35 on the plunger. The plunger 29preferably has a top section'36 whichv is screwed to the lower section;said top section being rounded to provide apush button 37. Thearrangement is such as shown in Figure 1 that when the bolt isprojectedwith its beveled end 14 out of the casing that the point 21 ofthe bolt is positioned within one of the depressions 26 of the camandwithone of the pins 18 directly under the end 33`of the plunger. Aspring 38 within the casing engages the part 8 of the bolt and normallytends to move and hold the bolt in its projected po sition.

The casing 5 can be inserted in a door such for example as an automobiledoor with the button 37 in a position where it can be pushed bythelingcr of a person and when it is desired to open the door theplunger is depressed so as to cause the lower end of the plunger toengage said latter mentioned pin and to turn 'the Acam 17. This actionwill cause the adjacent surface portion 27 of the cam to engage theSurface 19 of the bolt and owing to the angular or slanting dispositionof this surface the bolt will be retracted unshort distance outward andat the same time due to the curved character oi the surace` portion 25of the cam, as shown in Figure,

the cam will be rotated from the position shown in Figure 3 to theposition shown in Figure et until'the adjacent depressionZB of the cammoves into registry Withthe pointV 21 of the bolt and since the point 21isin line With the axis ofthe lugli), upon which the cam isrotatably-mounted, theboltwill be .held in the position shown in Figureet after having moved a short distance outward from the position showninFigure 3. lt will be noted however,` that the 'portion 1A of thezboltWill still be Within vthe confines oiI the casing 5 and when the latchiswvithina doorand ,the-bolt is in saidlatter mentioned position thedoor can be freely vopened'and the bolt will remain-in this positionuntil the plunger 29 is again moved downward during Which factionfthelower end 3310i the plunger Willstrilre another of the -pins 18 and willrotate the camuntilthe-suriace portion 28 .engages the'point '21 o'fthebolt, .after Which the actionof the spring V38-W`ill move the boltand-Will also rotate thecam until the adjacent deepdepression26 movesinto registry with the point 21; it beingnoted that the spring 38 Willcause the point 21 to Jfollow on vthe cam and during thisaction the part14 ofthe bolt Will'loe projected out of the hole 15 into its retainingposition Where it Will engage the keeper on the frame of the door. Thespringa serves to raise the plunger into its normal position after thepressure of a'persons linger has been removed therefrom and ythis upwardmovement of the plunger permits the next pin in the cycle of rotation toypass into a position below the end33 of the'plunger so that` When theplungeris again depressed the quarter turn movement of the cam will beeffected partly by the actionV of the plungerl and partly by the actionofthe spring 38.

The spring 38 is in rthe form of-a loop eritending around another lug89; one portion of the spring 38 being in engagement with the bolt Whilethe rother portion abuis `the inner surfaceof the end oi' the casing.Vrlhe side 6 of the casing is attached by screws a() which fit in tappedholes in the various-lugs 12,32 and 39 so that the parts are kept inposition between the side 6 and t-he bachv 18. y

lVhile l have described my invention as taking a particulark form, itwill be understood that the various .parts of. my invention may bechanged Without departing romthe `spirit thereof, and hencevl do notlimit-myseliitotheprecise construction set forth, but consider that I amat liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly come Withinthe scope-ot the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent Vis Y 1. A latch including a boltga plunger;and means operative by the plunger in successive movements thereof inthe same direction for effecting movement. of said bolt into and out oflocking position; substantially as'described.,

2. A latch including a bolt; a cam for engagement with the bolt.andhaving a `pluralityioit actuating portions; and a plunger operativeto .successively move said cam portions to effect movement of'said bolt;substantially as described. t u

3. A latch includingabolt; a Vcam for operative engagement'with' saidbolt; ipins on said cam spaced apart; and1afplungerlmovable successivelyinto engagement Withisaid pins whereby movement lof the lcam is VefectedtoV 1 actuate the bolt substantially as described. Y

L1. A latch including Vaislidable bolt; l,a rotatable cam, vsaid bolthaving aV portion movable toward fand from rtheaXis of said cam, saidcamhaving depressions therein V,in Which said portion of the bolt isadapted t'olengage; pins projecting from said cam; a. Yspring Vtorholding said portion vof' the bolt Yin engagement with the cam; and aplunger operativeA toV successivelyv engage said pins and therebyintermittently lmove said cam to effect-movement' of the depressedportions -oi' -.the` cam into registry with said portion of the bolt,said depressions being located at .diil'erent distancesV from said axis;substantially -as described. 5. A latch including: aslidablebolt; a

rotatable cam, said l bolt V*having a portionmovable toward-and from theaxis of saidwith said portion of the bolt, saidi-depresv sions beinglocatedV at different distances from said axis, said cam having itsapproaching portionscurved toward said depressions; substantially asdescribed.

f6. A latch including a Yslidable bolt; aV |rotatableram,` saidbolt-.having a Vportion movable ltoward and from the aXisofvsaid cam,said cam. having'- depressions therein -in which said yportionofthe-bolt is adapted to engage; pins projectingV from saidcam;

a spring for-,holding saidiportionxof the bolt in engagement with thecam; a plunger operative to successively engage said pins cam to bringanother pin under said plunand thereby intermittently move said cam ger;substantially as described.

to effect movement of the depressed portions In testimony whereof I havesigned my of the cam into registry with said portion of name to thisspecification in the presence of 5 the bolt, said depressions beinglocated at two subscribing Witnesses.

different distances from said axis; and a spring for moving said plungerin an op- THOMAS J MACKENZIE JR' posite direction out of the path ofsaid pin Witnesses: to permit said first spring to move the boltELIZABETH GARHE,

10 and said portion' of the bolt to move said CHAS. W. Po'r'rs.

